Make a Plan
Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere, and often without warning – and the best thing you can do is make sure you are prepared.
Making a plan will help you get ready, and talking about your plan with your whānau/family, workmates, marae and community will make sure everyone’s prepared.
Your plan should include:
- How and where you will meet following an emergency
- Who will be picking up children from day care or school
- Where grab bags and emergency items are stored at home and who is responsible for them
- What actions to take around elderly relatives or vulnerable people in your neighbourhood
- How to care for your pets and livestock
- Where special medication or mobility aids can be found
- How to turn off power, gas and water
- How to stay informed, including a list of local radio stations to listen to for updates
- Important phone numbers for family, neighbours, trades people etc
Find more information and templates to make a plan for your home, workplace, school, community or marae on the Get Ready website.
Where to go during or after an event
Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer to this question!
This is because it depends on the nature of the event and the area of an event. We can’t approve people to go to an evacuation centre until the building has been assessed and deemed safe for the community to go to, once the event is happening. This reduces the risk of our community heading to a building that may actually be flooded or that may have collapsed, which could put people in further danger and further stretch emergency services.
The good news is our Welfare Committee will be visiting each of our potential welfare sites over the next 18 months and assessing whether they are still suitable facilities that could be used during an event.
Notice will still be provided during an event, if and when required. Listen to channels. Be mindful of misinformation. Use reputable sites.
Preparing for no power and/or no tower
We are heavily reliant on our phones, power and the internet, but how do we prepare for or get through an event if the power is out and cell phones not working?
- Make sure you have battery packs that are charged.
- Make sure you have essentials ready to last you at least a week if you get stuck. eg bottled water, non-perishables, first aid kits. Don’t forget pet food and baby food.
- Ensure you have candles and working lighters on hand.
- Stay in touch with your neighbours.
- Sit tight and wait.
It is important to note that when you are searching for up-to-date and reputable information. Listen to channels.
